How do A-Net track users?

Salad_Dodger

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Feb 2009

Hi,

what different ways can Anet track those who are in the game?

I can think of the following:

1) Email address / account ID
2) IP address of user connecting to their servers.

Any others?

Eg - can they track the MAC address of a PC accessing their game?

Elephantaliste

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Nov 2008

adblockplus.or

what are you looking for ??

once you you are logged in.. well, you are online.
Since you are interacting with their servers as a logged user, they don't need to do any particular tracking.

pumpkin pie

pumpkin pie

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jul 2006

behind you

bumble bee

E/

your question sounds suspicious. Are you trying to dodge getting track?

ac1inferno

ac1inferno

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Aug 2007

Boston

We D Shot Your Stances [GODS]

A/W

When you installed Guild Wars, you also installed the ability to have a camera in your monitor to look out at you and into your room.

But on topic, I would think the account comes first. If something fishy happens, like mass trading from one account to another, IP can be checked too to see if the accounts could be related or if the items are ebayed.

Gwmaster

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Sep 2005

Canada/Quebec

N/

my bet is on the ip, ive had a private server of wow, and i could see the ip of people connecting on my server, i could also see their chat log/movement in the game,actually im pretty sure they can see whatever you do in game if they want.They dont need to put stuff on your computer..since you're the one connecting to their server.

Snograt

Snograt

rattus rattus

Join Date: Jan 2006

London, UK GMT??0 ??1hr DST

[GURU]GW [wiki]GW2

R/

Enough of the "witty" one-liners please - srs question needs srs answer.

To OP - the only reason I can come up with for wondering if ANet can see MAC addresses is that you want to know if they can trace stolen accounts, would I be right?

More input please - before this lot tempt me into exercising my hitherto-unused infraction button

Salad_Dodger

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Feb 2009

Received a permanent ban for "botting".

Basically I set up a logitech keyboard to farm raptors with 4 macro keys and spent an entire weekend doing it. They called a 15hr stint "unhuman" and banned me.

Since they state they will ban anyone trying to get back into the game, then if I choose to buy the games again I would like to avoid this.

I have tried appealing, but they copy and paste the same responses to me and have now started to ignore requests for proof and to entertain an informed discussion.

The ban is not just, I dont trade gold for real life cash, I was after gold drops, picks and white / black dye.

Seems the macro to run a set of actions from the logitech is bannable.

Snograt

Snograt

rattus rattus

Join Date: Jan 2006

London, UK GMT??0 ??1hr DST

[GURU]GW [wiki]GW2

R/

Ah, that one.

Macros are a very grey area. ANet have nothing against macros per se, as long as there is actually a human there operating the macros manually, i.e. scripts would be bannable.

As they've looked at the transcript for your actions over those 15 hours, all they can see is a mass of commands with the same time difference between them which would set all the "bot alarms" ringing. They work on the basis of reasonable doubt, as there is no way to prove this one way or another and, let's face it, 15 hours straight is pretty extreme for Raptor farming.

I really can't think of anything else to suggest, other than persisting with your claims of innocence - maybe if you sent them a copy of the macros you used so they can see that they were un-automated scripts?

Kattar

Kattar

EXCESSIVE FLUTTERCUSSING

Join Date: Mar 2007

SMS (lolgw2placeholder)

Me/

You should be able to buy the games again and play with no problems. You'll have to have a different email address more than likely though.

The validity of the ban will not be discussed here.

Siirius Black

Siirius Black

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Aug 2007

The Dragon's Lair

La Legion Del Dragon

E/

If I where you, I would try what Snograt suggested. Make sure to attach the macros, the logitec version information and so on.

The problem here is the 15 hours of continuous play.

Salad_Dodger

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Feb 2009

Quote:
Originally Posted by Katsumi View Post
You should be able to buy the games again and play with no problems. You'll have to have a different email address more than likely though.

The validity of the ban will not be discussed here.
I am not asking for the validity of the ban to be discussed here. I will only point out that I consider it un-just in the extreme, being my opinion.

However, taking the suggestions into account, how can I proceed as Snograt suggested if they are simply ignoring any attempts at conversation or reasoned debate?

They have decided their decision is final with stubborn defiance to enter into debate. In fact, I am not even asking for debate, I am asking for conversation.

Since they will not converse with me, and that my only recourse to the game is to put money in their corporate pocket and buy it again, I am asking how can they track me as I do not want to shell out a dollop of cash to be "re-banned" on day 2 - again with no notice, no warning or justification.

Thanks.

Antares Ascending

Antares Ascending

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Aug 2008

E/

.

You might want to point out the 'fact' that there were a reasonable number of short nature/munchie breaks in the 15 hours. If there were no breaks.....

DarkFlame

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Feb 2005

Ascalon

E/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Katsumi View Post
You should be able to buy the games again and play with no problems. You'll have to have a different email address more than likely though.
^ I question that. From the EULA...

Quote:
(h) Former Members. Members whose Accounts have been terminated by NC Interactive may not access the Service in any manner or for any reason, including through any other Account, without the express written permission of NC Interactive. Accounts accessed by Former Members are subject to immediate termination. NC Interactive reserves the right to use any means necessary, including those in section 4(i) to identify and remove Former Members.

(i) Related Accounts. If NC Interactive terminates an Account, NC Interactive may terminate any other Accounts that share the same member name, phone number, email address, postal address, Internet Protocol address, or credit card number with the terminated Account.
Isn't there a semi-notorious Guru member that had his primary account perma banned and his subsequent new account, also perma banned when Anet found it(at least temporarilly, since he did have permission to start a new one)?

*edit
Quote:
However, taking the suggestions into account, how can I proceed as Snograt suggested if they are simply ignoring any attempts at conversation or reasoned debate?
Try here.

Seraphim Angel

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Nov 2008

Sacred Knights of Orr [SKoO]

P/

Not sure if anet can track MAC addresses but they can see your IP address if needed. Your IP address can be traced back to your ISP provider like Comcast. The ISP provider CAN see you MAC address info and can terminate your internet service or proceed with legal action if needed. So basically use your internet and play the game the way it was intended!

Snograt

Snograt

rattus rattus

Join Date: Jan 2006

London, UK GMT??0 ??1hr DST

[GURU]GW [wiki]GW2

R/

http:///wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/User talk:Gaile_Gray/Support_Issues

I hope that's the right address - I had to hand code it because I can't link from behind a proxy. Gaile is your last option to get this resolved: If she can't help you, nobody can.

There is nothing else we can do for you here.